General purpose shipping shelter



Aug. 23, 1960 w. H. RAMSEY GENERAL PURPOSE SHIPPING SHEL'IEIR 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 29, 1957 INVENTOR E WALTER H. RAMSEY /lfi. Q/

ATTORNEYS Aug. 23, 1960 w. H. RAMSEY GENERAL puru=osza sun=pmc summa 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 29. 1957 INVENTOR WALTER H. RA MSEY G.AM-t

ATTORNEYS nite States ?atent GENERAL PURPOSE SHIPPING SHELTER Walter H. Ramsey, 3801 7th St. s., Arlington, Va.

Filed Mar. 29, 1957, Ser. N0. 649,582

2 Claims. (C1. 105-377 (Granted under 1m 35, U.S. Code 1952 sec. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

The present invention relates to a general purpose shipping shelter and more particularly 110 a reusable shipping shelter fr shipments of material cm flat bed carriers comprising a self-supporting cover capable of being removed and reinstalled on the flat bed of the car- 1'ier for the purposes of free access in unloading and loading of material.

The invention will be described With partieular reference t0 shiprnent by railroad cars but it is to be understood that it may be utilized for shipment by other carriers having load-supporting beds or platforms, such as highway trucks or trailers, air-borne freight carriers, water-borne barges, and the like. A preferred embodiment includes flat railway cars provided With a load-supporting floor or platform adapted to receive sections which, when assernbled, present the appearance of a complete box car. The unit is particularly adapted for use in connection With a railway transportation system or flat-bed truck transportation system for handling and shipping of heavy and bulky material, such as for example, heavy ordnance pieces, which may be loaded and unloaded vertically or horizontally -from the flat-bed car by lifting with a derrick, overhead crane, or similar overhead handling equipment; or by moving the load 01T of the carrier horizontally on rollers With crow-bars or a system of ropes and pulleys; or by fork-lift truck. The easily removable shelter portion 0f the present invention makes such handling from above or from any side possible, while providing dun'ng tra.nsit a weatherproof enclosure which can be quickly placed and secured into position and readily removed When necessary.

Prior art devices partially performing the function cf the invention include a wood frame having a tar paper cover and nailed structure covering the load and fastened to the flat railroad car. Disadvantages of that type of structure were that they were expansive and tirne consuming because they had to be cornpletely built up after each loading operation before shipment, and then had to be disassembled completely at the destination for each unloading operation. Such coverings were usually comstructed of a good grade cf lurnber but expendable because it was uneconomical to return them for reuse, since the major elements of their cost was the labor involved in nailing them together as well as the two-way freight charges thereon. The use of such coveri-ngs and methods resulted in the costly expenditure of a great deal of material and time because the cost of erection and subsequent tearing down had to be repeated With every shiprnent. These costs are obviated by the use of the present invention once the initial cost of construction has been met because the shelter is returnable free of freight charges and classed as part of the railroad car for weight allocation purposes in computing freight charges.

Patented Aug. 23, 1960 The shelter cf the present invention is not to be coufused With removable containers, sectional or unitary, which incorporate within themselves a fixed or hinged bottom 01' a load-supporting floor portion, such as the type described in Patent N0. 1,793966 issued to Robert T. Romine. Containers of that type are intended for the purpose of lifting and transferring the load itself, and having a floor, are not readily adaptable to being lowered by crane over a heavy piece of equipment which, to prevent displacement during transit, must first be blocked and secured directly the flat bed of the carrier. Furthermore, containers, whether -knockdown 01' rigid type, since they are not aifixed to the railroad car when being returned are not classifiable as railroad car weight and therefore cannot result in the savings in shipment and return freight which the present invention makes possible.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is toprovide a novel and improved general purpose shipping shelter which obviates the above-mentioned difliculties.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide a removable hood-like enclosure for loads, which enclosure is fastened to a flat-bed carrier =during shipment.

A-n0ther object of the invention is to provide a weatherproof covering composed of a plurality cf sections adapted to be fastened together and to a flange on a flat-bed carrier for protection during shipment 0f loads resting on or fastened directly to the bed of the carrier.

Still another object of the instant invention is to provide a new, rapidly removable and relatively inexpensive shipping shelter which Will result in freight savings by being classified, for freight allocation purposes, as part of the carrier on which it rests.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention Will be readily appreciated as the Same becomes better understood -by referenee to the following detailed description When considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the assembled shelter in position on a flat car for railroad shipments;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the interior 0f one section of the shelter, taken along line 22 cf Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view jg artially in section of the joint at the top 0f the shelter showi-ng a clarnping means and centen'ng guide;

Fig. 4 shows in perspective a flat car With a securing flange for the shelter affixed to the bed of the car;

Fig. 5 is a section 0f the flat-car frame and mounting flange taken along line 55 of Fig. 4, showing details of fastening the mounting flange of Fig. 4 to the flat car;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of one corner of the mounting flange cf Fig. 4 taken along line 6 6 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view partially in section of the escape door in the end of the shelter taken along line 77 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like 01' corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 a preferred embodiment cf a self-supporting shelter or hood-like enclosure designated generally as 10. This enclosure is made up of sections or portions 11, 12 canstructed so as to matte together along clea;vage lines or joints 13 and removably mountable on a carrier 19. Although only two sections 11, 12 are illustrated it is understood that multiple sections may be similarly employed without departing from the spirit 0x scope of the invention. The several enclosure sections 11, 12 are similar in construction, except along each side of the mating joint 13 and except for differences in the mating portions of a clamping device 26. As shoWn. best in,

Fig. E2, each section 11, 12 eomprises a supporting frame made up of standard struetural shapes such as, for example, angle members 14, T-rnembers 15 and I-rnernbers 16, arranged and fabricated into a rigid framework over which a cover 17'is securely'fastenedby any suitable method such as welding. The cover 17 may be of any suitable sheet material' such as metal, plywood, Masonite, plastic or the like.

Appurtenances may be attached tothe shelter fo1: access and safety, such as a catwalk 21, grab. irons 22'[ and ladders 23, all complying with' requirements of the: Four symmetrically.

Ameriean Association of 'Railroads. spaced lifting eyes 24 are provided in. the top of each' section '11, 12 for the purpose of raising, lowering and otherwise handling each section of the shelter by means of suitable hooks and cables from an overhead handling device such as a crane or derrick. Bach lifting eye 24 is securely fastened into the framework for strength and support.

As best seen in Fig. 3 the separate sections or portions 11, 12 of the shelter forrn a weatherproof joint and are guided into proper mating relationship by two legs 32a and 32b of a centering guide 32 mounted on the frarnework of one section of the shelter straddling a rnating I-beam 33 fastened to the framework of the other seetion of the shelter. A weatherproof seal is provided at joint 13 when the curved end 35 of one portion of the shelter fits under or inward of the edge of the cover 17 of the opposite section and into the trough rnember 34. Any suitable clamping means 26 may be provided to lock the sections of the shelter 11, 12 together during Iransit. Fig. 3 illnstrates one preferred type of such clamping means 26 in which mating Z-shaped guide men1bers 25a and 25b are attached to the shell of opposing sections so that when the shel-ter portions 1 1, 12 are joined in proper osition the Z- shaped members 25a on one section overlap the Z-shaped members 25b on the other seetion. Holes 29 are provided in each of the mating Z-shaped rnembers 25a and 25b so that the holes 29 Will be aligned when the various sections 11, 12 of the shelter 10 are proporly positioned in relation to each other. A seeuring pin 27 may then be dropped into the overlapping holes 29 for securing purposes. A chain 28 may be provided to retain the pin 27 in convenient proximity when it is disengaged from the holes 29.

As shown best in Fig. 4, 19 represents-a flat car or carrier. car 19 is a mounting flange or securing rail member 18 constructed so as to provide a rigid and fixed base onto which the bottorn edge of shelter 10 may be temporarily fastened at spaced intervals around its perimeter. As permissible variations, flange 18may be shaped and mounted so as to be either internally or externally perimetric to the walls of the shelter 10, 01' further may be perpendicular thereto at the base so as to mate with an L-shaped flange 14 in the bottom end of shelter 10. Tapped holes 30 may be provided through mounting flange 18 into which bolts 20 are threaded after the shelter 10 is lowered into place. Slots or holes 37 may be provided around lower edge of the Shell of each section 11, 12 to coincide with corresponding tapped holes 30 on flange 18, thus assuring a tight weatherproof joint around the base during transi-t. For properly guiding the enclosure sections 11, 12 over or against the flange 18 and into proper securing position, guide wedges 40 may be provided on the carrier 19 at several locations,

especially near the corners of the mounting flange 18- and near the joints or cleavage lines 13 of the several enclosure sections. Matching arrows 55, 56 may be painted on or otherwise provided as shown on the enclosure and carrier as a further aid in longitudinal alignment, and beam rnember 33 straddled by Y-mernber 32 serves as a crossvvise guide for alignment of the enclosure sections with each other.

Fastened to or embedded in, the floor of flat' An access door 38 may be provided in each end of the shelter 107 The access door may be locked from the outside but for safety reasons a removable ernergency release handle 47 is provided to prevent the locking of personnel within the shelter. A latching lever 41 is provided with a wedge end 42 for engagernent With opening 49 in flange 51. Lever 41 is pivoted at 46 on the threaded end of a handle 47. A stationary bar 43 is welded or-otherwise secured to access door 38 and has a hole whiehmeets With hole. 52 in latching lever 41 through which hol'es a conventional lock may be insertecl for locking: the access door from the outside. A threaded fernale capped nut.45 is welded onto matching lever 41 at the pivot point 46. Emergency release handle 47 on the inside. of the door passes through a hole in a door and is threaded into nut 45 in latching lever 41. A stationary handle 48 is also welded to the inside of -the door 38.

F01 emergency openingof the door from the inside the handle 47 is removed by turning it counterclockwise. The door is then shaken by using stationary handle 48 until latch 41 drops and wedge end 42 falls out of opening 49. Although the lock Will remain in hole 52 seeuring latch 41 to stationary bar 43 the door will n0* longer be locked and may be opened by swinging it 011 door hinge 39;

Operation of the invention is as follows: After the load or material to be shipped is properly bloeked and secured to the flat bed of the carrier 19, the individual enclosure sections 11 12 arelowered into position in proper sequence so that the section containing trough member 34 Will be placed into position before the opposite section having mating curved end 35. As each section is lowered over gnide wedges 40 it drops into position over mounting flange 18 so that slots 37 Will becorne aligned with holes 30. Cap screws 20 With washers are then inserted through holes 37 and 30 for fastening the shelter securely to the flat bed of the carrier. Pin 27 is inserted into aligned holes 29 in the separate Z-shaped guide mernbers 25a and 25b on each portion of the adjoining shelter sections.

After the shiprnent has arrived at its destination threaded cap screws 20 are removed by -backing thern out of engagement, pins 27 are removed frorn clamping deviees 26 and each section 11, 12 may then be separated from the other by raising it With an overhead crane or similar lifting device and rnoving it endwise apart and ofl of the flat-bed car 19. The load may then be rernoved,

and cables, blocking and securing means fo1 fastening the load may be rernoved by overhead crane or similar lifting device without any interference fron1 side Walls er roof of the shelter which Would otherwise be a limitation on the working area or handling means. Thus, is provided an inexpensive reusable shelter which saves time in loading and unloading, and which serves as rneans for converting an erstwhile flat car into a watertight, fire proof box car. The flat car may be restored to its original forrn by simply lifting 01T the shelter.

It should be realized of course the inventive device is by no means to be restricted to use with flat bed milroad cars. For example, it may also be used on flat-bed trucks, on water-borne vessels, on air-borne frcight carrying aircraft, and further types of freight carriers.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically deseribed.

What is claimed is:

1. A rectilinear shipping body for attachment to and detachment from the bed of a flat car and comprising at least two joinable sections, each section having a cover sheet provided With a mating edge, an I-beam carried by and extending substantially to the mating edge cf one of the sections and having a web ortion, an I-beam caI- ried by and extending substantially to mating edge of the other section and having a web portion, a pair of mutually spaced ba.rs attached to opposite sides of the Web portion cf the I-beam on said one section and having diverging guide members formed thereon and extending outwardly therefrom for engaging and straddling the Web portion of the I-beam on said other section to guide and maintain said sections in alignment, a clamping device carried by said one section, a cornplementary clarnping device cam'ed by said other section, said clamping devices being disposed in overlapping relationship and having registering opem'ngs therein, a pin disposed Within said opening for locking said devices in overlapping relationship to maintain said mating edge on said one section in abutting engagement With the mating edge of the other section, a trough carried by said one section internally of the cover sheet and terminating at one end thereof in an inwardly turned flange, a shield plate carried by said other member internally of the cover sheet and terminating at one end thereof in a downwardly turned flange and overlapping said inwardly turned flange for providing a watertight seal between said seetions, a mounting fiange carried by the bed of the flat car and having the inner surface in engagement With the bed and the outer surface thereof in spaced relationship with respect thereto, an angle rnember carried at the terminal end of said body in engagernent with the outer surface of said mounting flange, a plurality of bolts extending through the angle member in the threaded engagement With the mounting flange for securing the angle Inember to the mounting flange thereby to support the body 011 the bed of the flat ca.r and a plurality of guide elements carried by the bed and having inwardly directed inclined surfaces beginning at the outer surface of the mounting flange and engageable by said angle member for guiding said body onto the bed, and a lockable access door on said body with means for unlocking the door frorn the interior of said body when the body is supported on the bed of the flat car.

2. A rectilinear shipping body for attachment to and detachment from the bed of a flat car and comprising a first and a second joinable section, each one of the sections having a pair of side Walls and a roof portion spanning the distance between and connected to said side walls and provided with a mating edge, an I-beam canied by said first section and extending longitudinally along the roof portion of the first section and .terminating at the mating edge thereof, a complementary I-beam carried by said second section and extending longitudinally along the roof portion cf the second section and terminating at the mating edge thereof, a web on said I-beam ca.rried by said first section, a complementary web on said Lbeam carried by said second section, guide means including a pair cf plates, each plate being secured to opposite sides of the web of the I-beam carried by said first section having a diverging guide portion integrally formed there- With for engaging and straddling the web 0f the I-beam carried by said second section to guide and align said first and second sections during assembly of the sections thereby to provide a unitary shipping body, clamping means carried by said first section on the roof portion and adjacent said mating edge thereof, complementary clamping means carn'ed by said second section on the roof portion and adjacent said mating edge thereof and disposed in overlapping relationship With the clamping means on the first section, a pin engaging said clamping means for locking the first section t0 the second section and maintaining the mating edge thereof in abutting engagement, a trough carried by the roof portion of said first section and extending beyond the mating edge thereof and provided With an inwardly turned flange, a shield plate carn'ed by the roof portion of the second section and extending beyond the mating edge thereof and terminating in a downwardly turned flange overlapping said inwardly turned flange for providing a watertight seal at the mating edges of said sections, a mounting flange carried by the bed and extending around the periphery thereof, an angle member carried by said Walls of the first and second sections at the terminal ends thereof and extending around the periphery thereof, means including a plurality of bolts in engagernent with said mounting flange and the angle member for securing the sections to the bed, a plurality of wedge-shaped guides carried by the bed and disposed inwa.rdly of the mounting flange and engageable by the angle member for guiding the sections onto the bed, and a lockable access door on at least one side Wall of the sections and provided with means for unlocking the door from the interior of the body when the sections are assembled and supported on the bed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 886,472 Brown May 5, 1908 895,278 Lettinger Aug. 4, 1908 1,227,408 Ewing May 22, 1917 1712363 Sparshatt May 7, 1929 2,132,328 Tatum Oct. 4, 1938 2,167,306 Kundert Iuly 25, 1939 2,201737 Meyer et a1. May 21, 1940 2269631 Marinello Jan. 13, 1942 2739,677 Greulich Mar. 27, 1956 2,743,953 Marra et a1. May 1, 1956 2,762,645 Bordher Sept. 11, 1956 2,772,110 Petrochko Nov. 27, 1956 2,789668 Martin Apr. 23, 1957 2,817,304 Newcomer et a1. Dec. 24, 1957 

